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How N.B.Bharti got shifted
from Crime Branch
What has prompted the State Government to shift lady IPS officer N.B.Bharti from the Crime Branch to Vigilance? Information available with insightorissa.com suggests that Bharti was at loggerheads with Crime Branch IG B.K.Sharma over the past few months. While Sharma was reportedly unhappy with Bharti for her “non-performance”, Bharti had lodged a protest, it is said, with the Director General of Police Amarananda Patnaik and Home Secretary T.K.Mishra about Sharma’s “dominating” and “too interfering” style of functioning. It is also said that Bharti went to the extent of complaining that she felt harassed under IG Sharma. According to a senior official, Bharti met Vigilance director Gopal Nanda and expressed her desire to come back to Vigilance. It is worth mentioning here that this lady IPS officer of 1998 batch has spent most of her time in the Vigilance. The tussle between the crime branch IG and the SP had also taken a toll on investigation in many important cases. To bring an end to such an uncomfortable situation, DGP Patnaik recommended the Government for her transfer. Vigilance director Nanda’s recommendation is also said to have helped her much. And, IG Sharma was happy to spare Bharti. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Who will succeed Amitav Thakur?
Who will be the next superintendent of police of Khurda aka Bhubaneswar SP ? As the mandarins in State administration find it difficult to pick up the "suitable" candidate, a possible IPS reshuffle is only getting delayed. According to sources, incumbent Bhubaneswar SP Amitav Thakur is going on a two-month training to Italy from 2nd September. And, the post cannot be kept vacant for such a period. More so, Thakur has completed roughly three years in Bhubaneswar, and a transfer is imminent. Sources told this website that Ganjam SP R.K.Sharma's name tops the list of officers for the post of SP, Bhubaneswar. This is also stated to have been recommended by DGP Amarananda Pattanayak to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last week. However, the CM is found to be not very favourable to the recommendation and wants Sharma to continue in Ganjam for some more time. Sambalpur SP Dedutt Singh's name is also making the rounds for the key post. It is also said that the administration is contemplating to put an officer on an adhoc basis for few weeks or so until it picks the suitable boy. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Governor refuses to
meet Bhakta Das
After the boos from public and supporters of development, anti-Vedanta campaigner and the so-called champion of the cause of environment Bhakta Charan Das has got the final reprimand. Governor Rameswar Thakur refused to meet the former Union minister when the latter went to the highest authority to discuss about the Rs 5000 crore alumina refinery at Lanjigarh. Known more for his anti-development posture than promoting the cause of economic progress, Bhakta Das sought the Governor's permission for a meeting last week. After going through Das' two-page anti-Vedanta memorandum, the Governor refused to entertain him. Thakur is understood to have observed that mega industrial projects like Vedanta Alumina should get all kinds of support, and leaders must support the cause of development rather than trying to derail the process of the State's development. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Act of indiscretion. What’s that?
DGP myopic
By Prakash Rao
The inevitable has happened, finaly. But what could be avoidable for the bosses in the administration was a clearcut game plan. Inspector general and director of state police academy Sanjeev Marik has been placed under suspension, for what the state director general of police Amaranada Pattanayak describes an act of indescrection. This precisely means Marik’s conduct, according to DGP Pattanayak was not an act of wisdom as is expected of a public servant. This also means that DGP does not see or does not find an angle of conspiracy in IG Marik’s act. Many in administration wonder that how an officer of stature Amarananda Pattnayak can afford to be a myopic. They also wonder how cans an officer like Amarananda Pattnayak budge to pressure?
InsightOrissa.com editor Prakash Rao likes to ask a question to the honorable DGP Mr.Pattnayak that would he consider all acts of criminal conspiracy and all acts of helping and harboring criminals just an act of indiscretion? Or to the DGP the subject of indiscretion applies only to officials in high position?
For his act of nexus with criminals, the suspended IGP invites punishment under Sections 120(B) and 212 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) on charges of criminal conspiracy and harboring criminals, which, indeed, are serious offences. And, these are non-bailable crimes. Getting criminals, wanted for dacoity and murder, to home, offering them tea or coffee and discussing with them about helping their criminal associates housed in jail can under no circumstances be an act of indiscretion. It’s a plain crime. If tomorrow, we at InsightOrissa.com or any other journalist or any individual or group are found to be helping criminals or criminal gangs, will the honorable DGP Mr Pattanayak consider such an act as merely an act of indiscretion? No, we would simply be put behind bars. Then, why such double standards? Why did not the DGP recommend severe punishment for Marik anything less than handcuffs?
Outraged by media reports, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a probe into Marik’s conduct with the belief that the DGP would probe objectively into the case and submits an unquestionable report. Being the highest authority in police affairs, it is obvious that the chief minister will depend on him in such critical matters. And, in this case, Naveen believed what the DGP briefed.
Confessions by criminals apart, Sanjeev Marik himself has admitted that a friend had requested him to provide legal aid to these people (read dreaded criminals from Bihar). Marik’s man (one Kushna Behera with criminal records) accompanied these criminals to Bhadrak jail on the IG’s request. Crime Branch investigation has revealed that these criminals had plans to rescue their associates from jail.
Marik is a senior officer in the force, and in his 25 years in the IPS, he must have investigated scores of cases, and is expected to understand the intention of criminal gangs and their modus operandi. But, to DGP Pattanayak, it was an act of indiscretion. Kudos !
Orissa’s Vanzara has a close friend in Govt, DGP confused
By Prakash Rao
Orissa, it seems, is fast catching up with Gujarat on the activities of men in khaki. A senior police officer Inspector General (IG) Sanjeev Marik, as DG Vanzara in Gujarat, was found to have committed a criminal act more dangerous than a habitual criminal. But, what is more contemptuous and criminal is the fact that the State Government is simply not bothered about this starting revelation. The officer has been found to be conspiring with criminal gangs to help rescue murderers housed in Bhadrak jail in connection with the great Central Bank dacoity. Instead of taking stern action against Marik, the Government has deflected such a serious issue by ordering another probe on the issue that has already been probed and proved.
Director General of Police (DGP) Amarananda Patnaik reported to the Home Secretary Tarunkanti Mishra around third week of April last about the Crime Branch finding on Marik’s nexus with dreaded Bihari criminals which is suspected to have committed a series of bank dacoities in Orissa in the past one year including the Punjab National Bank robbery in Bhubaneswar and Rs 1 crore dacoity in SBI in Jajpur. But, the Home Secretary sat on the report and kept Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in dark, yet he is said to have informed the Saheed Nagar power center controlled by Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.
The Government was flabbergasted and shocked when reports about Sanjeev Marik’s involvement with criminals came out in the media in May first week, and scurried for evasive routes. The Home Secretary Mishra ordered for a second probe although nothing was wanted to be probed, as Marik’s association with criminals had been probed from all possible angles and evidences collected by the Crime Branch. Ironically, the Chief Minister is an ardent believer in the efficiency of Crime Branch, which he always reiterates.
DGP Patnaik, it seems, is a helpless soul in the game of prosecuting and rescuing tricks of the political class. Patnaik does not simply understand the need of a second probe when a watertight investigation has zeroed in on Marik. That a bigger game of politics, power and police bonhomie dictates the fate of Marik-probe was beyond DGP’s comprehension. Marik has many protectors, both in the Government and in the Opposition Congress. And, they have all putting their effort to rescue tainted Marik.
Marik was superintendent of police, Bhubaneswar for more than four years during Biju Patnaik government when he had developed a special bond with Pyari Mohan Mohapatra who was Biju Babu’s secretary. Biju Babu’s son Naveen does not know this historical bond, but he just cannot ignore a man who is said to have all control on his destiny, he is Pyari Mohan Mohapatra.
Senior IPS officer caught in videotape row
Sanjeev Marik may face arrest
By Prakash Rao
In a development that possibly could bring big embarrassment to the police establishment in particular and the State Government in general, a senior IPS officer has been found to be hand-in-glove with a criminal gang with the very intention of rescuing robbers housed in Bhadrak jail in connection with one of the biggest bank robberies in Orissa’s history. The officer in question is Sanjeev Marik, presently director of the State Police Academy, the institution that is supposed to bring quality in the State police force.
The Criminal Investigation Department (Crime Branch) is understood to have submitted to the Government the videotape of the confessions made by the members of the said criminal gang from Jamshedpur in Bihar about their discussion with IPS Marik. Incidentally, Marik hails from Bihar.
In February 2007, Orissa witnessed one of the biggest bank heists when robbers fled with Rs 27 lakh in cash from Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) staff at the Bhadrak Central Bank branch. After a thorough investigation, the Crime Branch officials managed to catch five of the gang members from Jamshedpur. Other members of the gang were in constant touch with their fellowmen jailed in Bhadrak.
As per the confessions, a police officer from Bihar had called up Sanjeev Marik to help out the gang in rescuing their fellowmen from Bhadrak jail. On recommendation of the said Bihar cop, the gang members met Marik at his residence in Bhubaneswar. Marik promised them help. “It’s a serious criminal offence. Such offences might invite punishment nothing less than an arrest,” said a Police Headquarter official.
Bolstered by Marik’s support, the gang members from Jamshedpur went to Bhadrak jail to plan a rescue operation. However, things turned different. The Crime Branch that was closely following the movement of other gang members in connection with the robbery case caught hold of them straight at Bhadrak jail after being tipped off by Jamshedpur police.
Following the arrests, the criminals confessed to have met Mr Marik for help. And, for the Crime Branch, it was an intelligent act to put on record the confessions.
Now, it is up to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik what action he takes. For a “clean” and “transparent” CM, such an act by a senior IPS officer is undoubtedly a dirty affair.
Boos for Bhakta
The much hyped ‘Kalahandi Suraksha Yatra’, that was deliberately planned by Bhakta Charan Das, to embarrass Vedanta for no reason, has come a cropper. As the former Central Minister from the district left with disappointment for Bijeypur, in the last leg of his weeklong yatra, it was all clear that his grand plan has fizzled out.
The yatra started at Kesinga on 14 March, the auspicious day of Pana Sankranti, marking the Oriya New Year, but the beginning seemed inauspicious. Out of some 200 people who came with curiosity, only about 40 remained for the actual yatra. Others quickly departed after taking food. By the time the yatra reached Rupra, going through villages like Sirol, Paralsingha, Thupadar, etc, only some 30 odd were seen. When yatra resumed next morning and reached Narla , only 20 were left. In all the villages Bhakta and his men faced hostile locals who booed him for his selfish motive.
Bhakta reached Biswanathpur on 17 and slogans like, “Lanjigarh Dhwani…Heu Vedanta Company (Lanjigarh wants Vedanta)”, welcomed him. The irate people asked him what they would do if Vedanta goes, now that they are earning their livelihood because of it. Bhakta and his followers faced angry protests in all villages of Lanjigarh like Champadeipur, Gopinathpur, Batelima, Belamba, Rengopali,etc, On 19 April, Bhakta cancelled his plans to go to Balabhadrapur as he got news of an abusive crowd waiting for him there. Instead, he went to Lanjigarh town where also he was greeted by a protesting crowd of 300-400 people led by local leaders like Chandra Pesnia, Sridhar Pesnia, Banamali Majhi, Vinod Gaud and Sanatan Rout. Frustrated by all this, Bhakta’s men started manhandling the people and hence, complaint has been lodged against him at the local police station.
Dejected by such turn of events much to his discomfiture, Bhakta left for Bijeypur with only a handful of his supporters. Spurred by his own political motives, Bhakta babu has been staging such gimmicks against Vedanta, off and on, even as the company has been working for the overall development of people around its project area, say the local people and leaders They have strongly decried such selfish and anti-development posturing of a person who was once a Central Minister from this backward district. InsightOrissa Bureau.
21 IAS shifted: Hrusikesh Panda gets mainstream posting after 4 yrs
More than three years after he was shunted to Omfed and kept away from the power corridor, Dr Hrusikesh Panda has been brought to the mainstream. Panda has been appointed principal secretary in the forest and environment department in place of S.P.Nanda. Nanda is appointed as the agriculture production commissioner, but in the rank of principal secretary. Madhusudan Padhi replaces Ashok Dalwai as RDC, Sambalpur. Dalwai is the new secretary, industries. Dalwai would also hold additional charge as chairman, Ipicol, Idco and the State Finance Corporation. Panchayati raj secretary Gagan Kumar Dhal replaces U.P.Singh as CMD, Gridco. Singh is the new secretary in the steel and mines department. L.N.Gupta replaces Asit Tripathy as energy secretary while Tripathy goes to tourism, the post that he held earlier. Satyabrata Sahu, additional secretary in the water resources department has been promoted to the special secretary rank while director employment Vijay Arora is appointed special secretary in the industries department. Santosh Sarangi is the new MD of Orissa Mining Corporation while chief executive OCAC Vishal Dev is appointed MD, Idco. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Major admn shake-up in 48 hrs, Jajpur gets new collector, SP
An expected post panchayat poll administrative reshuffle witnessed a big change in postings and transfers with as many as 16 district superintendents of police and an equal number of collectors being shifted in forty-eight hours. The district of Jajpur, which had been in the headlines for roughly a year post Kalinga Nagar police firing on tribals, has got a new collector and an SP. Sanjay Singh is the new Jajpur collector while Dhiren S.Kuttey is the district superintendent of police.
The list of IAS includes four lady officers while the list of SPs has one. N.B.Bharti is shifted from Bargarh to the Crime Branch. Sujata Rout replaces D.K.Singh as Cuttack collector while Subha Sarma, collector Koraput, is posted as director employment after her maternity leave. Singh has been placed as director OPEPA. Koraput ADM Mrinalini Darswal is the new Nuapara collector while her IPS husband Himansu Lal is posted as Bolangir SP. Debjani Chakrabarti, who hit headlines as Koraput sub-collector, is the new Jharsuguda collector.
Ganjam gets V.Karthikeya Pandian as the collector while secretary; Orissa Legislative Assembly Balakrushna Sahoo is the new Koraput collector. Pramod Patnaik replaces N.B.S.Rajput as Kalahandi collector while Rajput has been posted as joint secretary in the general administration department.
Suresh Vasisth, S.N.Girish and Krishan Kumar are Mayurbhanj, Angul and Sundergarh collectors respectively. Arabinda Padhee, who has experienced three transfers in two years, has again been transferred and posted as director, agriculture and food production.
Puri gets Asheet Panigrahi as the SP while Malkangiri SP Himansu Lal is shifted to Bolangir. “Lal was under threat from Maoits and we had to move him out of Malkangiri,” DGP Amarananda Patnaik said. P.S.Ranpise, a BJD loyal, is posted as Kendrapara SP. Pratik Mohanty has been shifted from Dhenkanal to Angul while S.K.Kaushal is promoted and posted as Dhenkanal SP. Mayurbhanj SP Ravi Kant gets Rourkela.
G.S.K.Iswardas is the new Malkangiri SP and Sanjay Singh replaces Ravi Kant as Mayurbhanj SP.
Utkal Alumina gets technology clearance from GoI
Upsetting the public sector National Aluminium Company (Nalco) designs to "sabotage" technology clearance from Government of India, Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a joint venture of Aditya Birla Group and Alcan of Canada, has received the approval from the Union Ministry of Steel and Mines. Sometime back, Nalco had written to the Centre objecting Utkal Alumina's technology plan stating that the public sector undertaking had the exclusive right to use the technology both in refinery and smelter. However, sources said, after careful study of UAIL's technology proposal and Nalco's objection, an empowered committee of the Centre turned down Nalco's claim. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Vedanta goes on schedule, to commission Lanjigarh plant on Friday
Vedanta Group's 1 million tonne capacity alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district will be formally commissioned on 30th March, company sources told this website. All the equipment and machinery including the power plant have been put under repeated and rigorous tests and have shown desired results. Hence, sources said, the management has decided to charge bauxite on 30th March while actual alumina output will take place roughly a month and a half. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Vedanta by March-end
The much-awaited Vedanta Alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district is all set to be formally commissioned by March end. One of the rarest Greenfield projects in the history of country’s alumina production, the Rs 5000 crore plant would produce One million tonne alumina annually. “Trial production has been on for the past few months and we would commission it by the end of this month. After it is commissioned, the plant would take 45 days to produce alumina,” vice-president (commercial) of Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL) Umesh Mehta told insightorissa.com. Meanwhile, the Union forest and environment ministry has granted environment clearance for Vedanta’s smelter project in Jharsuguda district. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
"Naveen was misled"
Two days after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik observed at the senior police officers' conference that management of law and order by the police during the recently concluded panchayat polls could have been better, several IPS officers told this website that the CM was misled by his office men. "The chief minister had a discussion with his secretariat officials before attending the conference and was fed with wrong information," a senior IPS officer said. There were more than 700 cases of violence during the 2002 panchayat polls and the number of cases reported during 2007 polls was only 175. "This itself proves that police managed the panchayat polls more efficiently this time," said another senior official. It was wrong reporting in a section of the media during the course of panchayat polls which, perhaps, made the CM believe that violence shot up, sources observed saying that the chief minister, however, later realised the facts. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
"Being head of force, I'm morally responsible"
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak to inquire into Chappell bashing. And, in his report to the CM, the DGP held himself morally responsible for the January 22 unsavory incident in which Indian cricket coach Greg Chappell was manhandled by an activist of Kalinga Sena. “I was asked to specify the names of officials responsible for negligence of duty and security loopholes. Since, I am the head of the force, I took the blame on me,” Pattanayak told this website. The DGP said, instead of finding faults and indulging in blame game, the incident should be taken as an example for corrective measures so that similar incidents do not recur in future. “I have mentioned in my report about the defects in security arrangements at the airport on the day the incident took place and the measures to be taken,” the DGP informed. The DGP’s inquiry report also speaks about reorienting the force deployed on VIP security duty and on security at sensitive places. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
DGP admits security failure
Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak has admitted that there were gaps in security arrangements at the Biju Patnaik Airport. “The arrangements should have been better,” the DGP told insightorissa.com. Some of the field staff in the rank of inspectors and sub-inspectors were negligent, Pattanayak said adding that heads will roll for failing to remain vigilant. Team India coach Greg Chappell was manhandled at the airport on Monday soon after he landed forcing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to order an inquiry. The DGP is expected to submit his report to the CM after the India-West Indies ODI. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
InsightOrissa Exclusive
Bitihotra's parole extension letter was faxed from BB Mohanty's office
Bidya Bhusan Mohanty, director general of homeguards and fire services, is likely to get into more trouble given the evidence available with Rajasthan police pertaining to his son Bitihotra’s parole. “We have clinching evidence to bring B.B.Mohanty to book,” a senior official of Rajasthan police told insightorissa.com. And, if the Rajasthan police are to be believed, Mohanty got his son on parole with the very intention of escaping the law. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
Law is clear, but circumstances may decide fate of case against BB Mohanty
Under media fire for not able to trace rape accused Bitihotra Mohanty, son of senior IPS officer B.B.Mohanty, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia is understood to have made a frantic telephonic call to her Orissa counterpart Naveen Patnaik two days ago seeking the latter’s full cooperation in the case. And, Naveen, who was completely indifferent on the issue for roughly a month, broke his silence. “Law will take its own course. No one is above law. And, all support would be extended to Rajasthan government,” Naveen said on Thursday after a long silence. By InsightOrissa Bureau. Read full story.....
Dear investors come here, but don't expect timely help from Govt
How serious is the State Government about putting the State on the world steel map? Or, for that matter, how committed is the Government towards the investors? The manner in which the Government is conducting itself in matters of industry, of late, does not sound very encouraging for the prospective investors. And, the manner in which the senior bureaucrats in the State Secretariat are behaving would only drive the investors away from the State. The much-awaited Posco project is a case in point. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
When DGP toured Naxal-hit region
Arms and ammunition alone cannot fight die-hard ultras who have been on the rampage in South Orissa for nearly a decade. It’s the force’ morale that only can weaken the influence of extremists. And, to boost the morale of the men fighting on the field, senior officers must go to the field and feel the pulse of the force. Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak means it, strongly. After years of isolation, the force in this region is buoyed over Pattanayak’s three-day tour of the Naxal-hit districts. InsightOrissa correspondent Satyabrat Sinha reports from Koraput and Malkangiri. Read full story.....
Kalinga Nagar tribals want a clear picture from Govt
The State Government’s dream run to build India’s steel hub in Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district, it seems, is on the throes of complete derailment with the tribals powered by “outside” forces holding ransom to the activities of the existing industrial units. Call it the longest economic blockade in the country’s industrial history or a seemingly endless fight for tribal rights, the loss is unprecedented. The January 2, 2006 incident in which 13 tribals fell to police bullets has virtually changed the course of the industrial momentum that had gained ground over the years. And, as victims’ families and vested interests continue to observe first anniversary of the bloody incident, the atmosphere in this proposed steel hub is completely hostile. InsightOrissa correspondent Snehasis Rath reports from Jajpur. Read full story.....
Minister Debasis Nayak spotted at discotheque
Time - 9.15 pm. Date - 29th December. Location - Sparks Discotheque. Dress Code - Political (white trouser and white shirt). Subject – State information and public relations minister and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s loyal lieutenant Debasis Nayak. Forty-eight hours before the dawn of New Year, the minister seemed excited. And, so excited was he that the minister did not hesitate to come to a discotheque. InsightOrissa.com team spotted minister Nayak in Sparks pub cum discotheque on Friday evening. Some of the guests familiar with the minister’s face were surprised to find a minister at a place where young boys and girls were enjoying drink and dance. The minister changed two tables before leaving the place. Nayak was accompanied by a senior scribe. No prizes for guessing the scribe’s name! By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Govt reverses decision as Nanda "protests"
Less than twenty four hours after M Akshay was promoted and posted as IG Vigilance, the State Government on Saturday reversed its decision. Rather, the Government was compelled to do so. Reason? Director of Vigilance G.C.Nanda is understood to have expressed resentment over the manner in which officers are chosen and posted in the anti-corruption wing. Sources told this website that Nanda was not willing to accept M Akshay as a replacement to IG V Thiagarajan who was shifted out of Vigilance to the prisons wing. The Vigilance head is said to have recommended the name of Abhay as suitable replacement to Thiagarajan. Abhay, an officer with an impeccable track record, had earlier served in the Vigilance as DIG. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is also said to be convinced that it was improper on the part of the administration to meddle with Vigilance affairs. M Akshay is now posted as IG Finance. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Rajasthan seeks Orissa help to trace IPS officer's son
Nine months after hitting national headlines and bringing shame to his high-profile family, son of IPS officer Bidya Bhusan Mohanty is once again in the news. This time he has brought more embarrassment to his father by absconding. BH Mohanty, the IPS officer’s only son arrested by Rajasthan police on charges of raping a Garman lady in March this year, is absconding after completing a two-week parole period. Rajasthan police has written to Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishra and Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak seeking help to trace the accused. BB Mohanty, who had brought his son on parole on personal guaranty, is dumbstruck and confused. By InsightOrissa Bureau. Read full story.....
Pyari's masterstroke
One thing that can be predicted about Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or for that matter about his advisor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra is their unpredictable decision-making behavior. The appointment of Ajit Tripathy as the chief secretary is a pointer to this. Tripathy gets a surprise gift while his predecessor Dr Subas Pani leaves Orissa as an unhappy soul since he wanted to see R.N.Bohidar as his successor. InsightOrissa investigation has revealed that the design to make Tripathy the next chief secretary was made roughly six months ago by Pyari Babu without making Pani unhappy until he went to Centre. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
How Ajit Tripathy made it to chief secy's post?
Ajit Tripathy has staged a phoenix-like surprise comeback by making it to the chief secretary’s post. It was beyond everyone’s belief that this 1973 batch IAS, who was shunted out of the State Secretariat corridors, would replace Dr Subas Pani for a period of three years. But, how Tripathy made it to the top post? And, how the equations changed when the possibility of R.N.Bohidar becoming Pani’s successor was a foregone conclusion?
This is how Tripathy succeeded in the race. An insightorissa.com exclusive:
- Despite Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s reservations, his advisor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra impressed upon the former that it would be comfortable on his part to conduct the panchayat polls with Tripathy as the administrative head. It is also said that Pyari Babu threatened not to conduct panchayat polls if Tripathy was not made the chief secretary.
- Ajit Tripathy has agreed in total to the conditions laid down by Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. One of these being that all important files will be sent from the chief secretary’s office to Mohapatra’s Saheed Nagar residence for final approval. This was also the condition laid down before Subas Pani, but he did not follow leading to severed relationship between the two.
- Several senior ministers and MLAs wanted that Tripathy should become the chief secretary. The reason being Tripathy is accessible unlike his predecessor Dr Pani who did not listen to requests of ministers and MLAs. Ministers Bishnu Das, AU Singh Deo and Biswabhusan Harichandan are believed to have openly lobbied for Tripathy. The political tribe thinks that they can get their things done through Tripathy.
- What makes the politicians believe that Tripathy would be friendly to them? When Tripathy was the industry secretary, he is said to have favoured several politicians including BJD’s Sarat Sahoo in terms of waiver of loan taken from Orissa State Finance Corporation.
- Ajit Tripathy was frequenting Pyari Babu’s residence with request that it would be humiliating if he was not made the chief secretary. Both Pyari Babu and Ajit Tripathy are said to be good friends. Hence, Tripathy was Pyari Babu’s only choice.
CM okays Binod Kumar's property confiscation
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday morning okayed confiscation of tainted IAS officer Binod Kumar's property that could be termed as first of its kind in the history of bureaucracy in Orissa. Highly placed sources told this website that the CM approved the file concerning confiscation of property of the corrupt IAS around 12.30 pm. Recommendation of the Vigilance Department to confiscate Kumar's property had been pending the CM's clearance for about a month after the IAS officer was arrested and jailed. A senior officer told insightorissa.com editor Prakash Rao that the State Government has taken the decision after studying similar cases in other states. A former inspector general of police of Jharkhand called Mr Natarajan's property was confiscated by the Jharkhand government a few years ago. The IPS officer had moved the Supreme Court, but his plea was rejected by the apex court upholding the government's decision. Taking this as a precedence, Naveen Patnaik was advised to clear Binod Kumar's file.
Baijayant “competes” with Naveen: Sponsors Jannmat interview, MTV award
Some people get recognition because they deserve it. And, some others stage-manage things to get recognized. “Estranged” Biju Janata Dal MP from Rajya Sabha and industrialist Baijayant Panda, it seems, belongs to the second breed. After attempting to grab attention through a sponsored interview on Hindi channel Jannmat, Panda recently managed to get an award from MTV as the stylish Member of Parliament. By InsightOrissa Bureau. Read full story.....
OTV out, ETV in
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his advisor Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra have “dumped” Orissa Television (OTV), the local news network that until last year was Government friendly. That precisely means the CM and Pyari Babu do no longer care about OTV’s anti-Government stand. For, they have managed to garner full support of its big brother ETV, which has a much wider reach. ETV (Eenadu Television), which more or less has been anti-Government, has suddenly turned Naveen-friendly. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Chandrababu Naidu has facilitated ETV’s u-turn in favour of Naveen. Sources told this website that during a recent visit of the CM to Delhi, Naveen had a meeting with Naidu in Andhra Bhawan. Eenadu group head Ramoji Rao was present in the meeting. Also present in the meeting was Bhaskar Rao, Biju Janata Dal’s kingmaker in South Orissa and a close associate of Ramoji Rao. On Naidu’s request, Ramoji Rao promised Naveen that his news channel would give positive coverage on the State Government. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
S.K.Nath joins as Sunabeda DIG after "recovery": Bargains for an early comeback
1993 IPS officer Sushant Kumar Nath, who was on sick leave following the mysterious death of DIG Jaswinder Singh, joined as DIG, South-Western Range, Sunabeda on Monday morning. Following Singh's death, Nath was immediately promoted and posted in Sunabeda. But, a reluctant Nath reported sick. It is widely believed in the police circle that Nath agreed to join as South-Western Range DIG after he was promised by the State Government that he would "soon" be brought back from the Naxal-infested area and given a comfortable posting. Since Jaswinder's death on 23rd October, S.K.Nath, for the past one week, was understood to be busy bargaining for an early comeback. It is worth mentioning here that Nath had earlier been successful in making bargains. Following the ghastly Raighar incident in Nowrangpur district a few years ago, the then SP was suspended. Nath was posted as Nowrangpur SP. Then also Nath had reported sick and reluctantly joined in Nowrangpur after a bargain with the then DGP N.C.Padhi. Padhi promised him to bring him back. And, within a year, Nath was posted as Sambalpur SP. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
Business dreams not realized, Baijayant Panda seeks opening in Cong
Frustrated with repeated failure to realize mega business cs as a member of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, Rajya Sabha MP and heir apparent of the IMFA-ICCL group Baijayant Panda is understood to have started parleys with the All India Congress Committee leadership. Looking out for an opening in the Congress, Baijayant is banking on his sister-in-law Shefali’s acquaintance with Priyanka Gandhi. Shefali is wife of Baijayant’s younger brother and managing director of Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA) Subhrakant Panda. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
Sushant Nath brings shame to Oriya pride
The history of erstwhile Kalinga, today’s Orissa, is replete with display of bravery by its heroes who fought the mighty British Empire. But, shamefully, here is an officer who started shivering at the news that he was going to replace gunned down DIG Jaswinder Singh. The other day, IPS officer Sushant Nath was fit and fine, and attended office. And, minutes after the State Government promoted him and posted as DIG, South-Western Range, Sunabeda, Sushant Nath reported sick. But, everyone – from IPS officers to constables – understand that Nath is not sick. Then, why he reported sick? Because, he does not want to go to a Naxal-infested place. Because, he is afraid. And, because, he was expecting a better police range. Nath’s reaction has indeed sent a wrong signal in the force. When he will join at Sunabeda after “recovery”, what morale he will boost among his subordinates to fight Naxals when he has made his cowardice act to obvious. And, more shameful is the fact that how the Police Headquarters has allowed Nath to remain on sick leave when every other senior officer including the DGP know that Sunabeda posting made Nath to fall sick. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
After NGOs, Southern RDC joins anti-industry bandwagon
"I'm S.P.Thakur, I don't care anyone"
Who decides allotment of land to industries? The State Government, or for that matter, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. At a time when the Chief Minister is trying hard to put Orissa on the trajectory of economic growth, here is an IAS officer who surprisingly has questioned the Government’s intention of leasing out land to industry. This official thinks that land allotments are secret deals between Government and the industry. Not only this. The IAS officer also aims to dismiss Chief Minister’s claim of transparency, which the BJD-BJP coalition has been basking upon in the last six years. The official in question is Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Southern Division, S.P.Thakur. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
Santosh Upadhyay proposes, Pyari Babu disposes
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s strategy designer Pyari Mohan Mohapatra aka Pyari Babu reigns supreme in matters of transfer and postings. And, the recent IPS reshuffle has only reinforced this belief among the officials. But what a majority of officials fail to understand is what considerations influence Pyari Babu when he thinks of placing an official in a place or post. A case in point is Santosh Upadhyay who, a few days ago, got a “lucrative” posting as DIG, Central Range, Cuttack. There are seven police ranges – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Balasore and Sunabeda – each headed by a DIG rank official. Of these, the Cuttack range is considered the best in terms of power and money the post offers. This apart, the Central Range also has many challenges for an officer since four politically sensitive districts – Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur – come under its jurisdiction. These districts also register more crime vis-à-vis others. Santosh Upadhyay, an IPS who arguably does not have a track record worth the name, has surprised his colleagues and subordinates by making it to the Central Range. A year ago, he was shifted from Bhubaneswar on the ground of “inability” to handle range affairs. As DIG of Berhampur Range, Upadhyay received flak from the public, and his boss Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak. Besides requesting Pyari Babu, sources said, Upadhyay had also impressed upon a few MLAs and ministers close to the Chief Minister. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
SB Agnihotri "sabotages" a govt grand plan
Why some of the grand plans of the State Government turn out to be grand failures? At times, the finances do not support, and sometimes, plans run into rough weather on extraneous grounds. But, here is a case where a senior official has “sabotaged” timely implementation of a plan. The case in point is reforms in the transport sector and the official in question is transport commissioner S.B.Agnihotri. By InsightOrissa Bureau. Read full story.....
Bhakta fiasco
The much-hyped anti-Vedanta protest march and tribal stir that Bhakta Das had thundered about in a press meet at Bhubaneswar, has turned out to be a fiasco. On 2 October, the appointed day, out of 13 blocks under 12 police stations in Kalahandi, there were some movement only in Bhawanipatna and Biswanathpur, 15 kms away from Lanjigarh. Their protest march had obviously no popular support and the people gathered with him, apart from the onlookers, were his own political supporters. By our correspondent from Bhawanipatna. Read full story.....
Lage Raho Naveen Bhai
No one really knows whether Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has seen bollywood blockbuster Lage Raho Muna Bhai, but the nation-wide Gandhigiri fever has seemingly caught up with him. Mahatma Gandhi cannot, or should not be the patent of Congress. After all, Gandhi is the nation’s father. But, why this sudden outburst of love for Mahatma Gandhi after six years in power? By InsightOrissa Bureau. Read full story.....
Exclusive Interview with Amarananda Pattanayak
I have a dream: DGP
His name had hit the speculative headlines two years ago for the coveted post of Director General of Police of the State. Roughly five years to go for superannuation, he has an impeccable track record with rich experience in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of conducting polls in the troubled J&K region. He had also led the force from the front in the North East extremist zone. Many in the administration call him a Fighter. At 10 am sharp, he is the office. At 2.45 pm, he goes for lunch, and at 3.30 pm sharp, he is back in the office. He believes in straight answers. And, if he remains in the post until 2011, he would be the longest serving DGP of the State. In an exclusive interview with insightorissa.com editor Prakash Rao, DGP Amarananda Pattanayak lists out his goals and dreams for the force...Read full interview.....
How ex-DGP NC Padhi coerced, threatened subordinates; ridiculed Vigilance officials - some startling facts.
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Art of maneuvering, ask IAS topper Roopa Mishra
Officers generally get to know the art of maneuvering after few years into the service. But, IAS topper Roopa Mishra, is an exception. For Roopa, it’s maneuver first and then get into service. And, came in handy in playing such tricks was her retired promotee-IAS father Danda Nirodh Mishra and his close connection with Orissa’s super power Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
InsightOrissa.com Exclusive
Lure of home posting: Two young IPS move court against Centre
Call it home calling, or the lure of home posting; two young IPS officers have moved the court with the hope of getting home cadre postings. Although this is believed to be first of its kind in the history of State’s administration and one of the rare cases in the country, senior bureaucrats are of the opinion that the chances of success in such cases are remote. The IPS officers in question are Safeen Ahmed and Satish Gajbajaye, both of 2003 batch. By Prakash Rao. Read full story....
Once blacklisted, Achyut Das’ NGO "Agragamee" is Naveen’s favourite today
Years ago, he waged a war against the State’s economic development by disrupting and halting a mega industrial project. His activities led to the tragic death of several innocent tribals. Today, he claims to be champion of the State’s development and manages to grab a multi-crore project that is designed to change the lives of millions of villagers across the State – thanks to his connections in the corridors of power. The man in question is Achyut Das, promoter of NGO “Agragamee”. By Prakash Rao. Read full story....
Binod Kumar's lieutenants, too, are crorepatis
Unbelievable, but true. Jailed IAS officer Binod Kumar’s accumulated wealth could be more than Rs 50 crore. Refuting insightorissa.com’s report that Kumar’s property is worth around Rs 20 crore, highly placed Vigilance sources confided that the worth of the tainted bureaucrat’s disproportionate assets is much more than what the website has reported. During the course of our investigation, we did not believe, initially, that an IAS officer could amass wealth that is equivalent to an industrialist’s worth. But, as we finished our investigation for a follow-up report, we realized that we were wrong. And, Binod Kumar’s ill-gotten wealth is beyond anyone’s comprehension. By Prakash Rao. Read full story....
For 420 Binod Kumar, corruption was his ideal
By Prakash Rao
There are no free lunches in this world, they say. They also say that everything has a price. Corruption, too, has a price. So, IAS officer Binod Kumar paid the price for corrupt deeds by landing up in jail. This bureaucrat, who boasted himself of being corrupt, would be seen in the next few days (until August 29) in his new office – Bhubaneswar Special Jail, Jharpara.
Binod Kumar, whose ill-gotten wealth would roughly stand at Rs 20 crore in the form of investments in real estate, shops, beauty parlours in the name of his wife, SSI units in the name of his brother and brother-in-law, shares and stocks and a few palatial buildings, is arguably a rare breed IAS.
Until Wednesday when he was taken to the jail, this officer always boasted of bring corrupt and regretted that he was “less corrupt” than his IAS counterparts working in his home state Bihar. It would be worth mentioning that sometime back when a group of journalists went to him in connection with a matter of higher education department, he was heard telling in a lighter vein, “lootne ayen hein, lootke jayenge. (We have come here to loot and will loot.” It all went in laughter, but Binod Kumar was steadfast on his mission to loot wherever and whichever post he held.
Perhaps drawing inspiration from some of his IAS friends working in Bihar, Binod Kumar’s argument has been he is less corrupt from the Bihar counterparts. According to him, some of the IAS officers in Bihar have property worth more than Rs 100 crore, and in comparison, he has accumulated nothing.
The manner in which Binod Kumar used his official position to amass wealth goes to suggest that he joined the service just to accumulate property after property. He involved himself in cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation and what not. Binod Kumar is the second IAS officer to land in jail in the recent past, the other being Prafulla Mishra.
Kandhamal is Orissa's Bastar
The tribal-dominated district of Phulbani, lately renamed as Kandhamal symbolizing the primitive Kandhas is the most most backward and underdeveloped region of Orissa. This is officially accepted, too. The district with 59 per cent tribal populace, more than 70 per cent illiteracy and widespread malaria and Hepatitis B, has always remained an `unnoticed’ pocket. Even in matters of transfer and postings, Phulbani aka Kandhamal is considered a punishment. But over the years what has gone unnoticed has been quietly and vividly being noticed by the ultras. Underdevelopment may not be an urgent issue for the administration, but the ultras, call it Naxals or Maoists, have certainly identified this district as a safe haven and a concrete launch pad to wage a bigger war against the State. Albeit the claims made by the State Intelligence big bosses, Phulbani has turned into a virtual Naxal jungle. And the ground reality is simply shocking. By Prakash Rao. Read full story....
Poverty of mindset
Unfortunately, as a people and as a society, we Oriyas, by and large, are afflicted with a major disability. And that is poverty of mindset. The reason why we are poor, compared to the more advanced states or regions of our country, is that we are mentally impoverished. We never think big, always miss the big picture and we are so complacent about it. Poverty, mental and otherwise is so deeply ingrained in us that we like wallowing in it. Not only that, if some of us dare to think big and come forward to do something, we promptly do all that is possible to drag him in to the morass. This way, we can never be developed, never be progressive and hence, as a people we must stop dreaming about all this. By Prakash Rao. Read full story.....
Tender-fixing mafia trying to have their voice
Pramod Rath, the contractor who recently came out on bail after roughly eight months imprisonment in Bhubaneswar Special Jail, Jharpada on charges of tender fixing and terrorizing petty contractors with the help of criminal gangs, is planning to launch a news channel in Oriya. The series of reports in both English and vernacular Press on the contractor-criminal-politician nexus in the State, which forced Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to order arrest of noted contractors, seems to have inspired Rath and his associates to go for a news agency, perhaps realizing the importance of media and the influence it wields. Pramod Rath, backed by another tender-fixing accused Rohit Das (owner of Hotel Crown), has plans to launch the news channel in January 2007 titled Maa Durga Television. By InsightOrissa Bureau.
People's support or power from the barrel of gun?
If Naxals are championing the cause of people, then, why people are afraid of Naxals? And, when Naxals claim that they have the backing of the people, then, why there is an atmosphere of distrust and discomfort among people? “You never know, what will happen, when and where,” says a villager of Naxal-hit district. One is forced to think that Naxals do not just survive by people’s support as they claim. It’s the power flowing from the barrel of the gun that makes them survive. By Prakash Rao.Read full story.....
Naveen, the toast of India
Naveen has taken the entire country by surprise by the slew of mega industrial projects. The industry as a whole and the national media are awestruck with “what’s there and what’s happening in Orissa” while the Opposition Congress is dazed by Naveen’s move. By Prakash Rao. Read full story..... |